Art Gallery of New South Wales
Home to one of the most comprehensive collections of Aboriginal and Australian art.
- Category
- Art museum
- Duration
- 2 h
- Price
- Free
- Best time
- Weekday mornings
Tip: Open late on Wednesday evenings.
Show on mapMuseums – Sydney
Sydney’s museums range from Aboriginal art to contemporary works, maritime history and science. Many are an easy walk from the harbour.
Combined ticket
There is no single pass for all museums; a Sydney Living Museums membership covers several historic sites such as Hyde Park Barracks and Museum of Sydney.
Free admission days
The permanent collections of the Art Gallery of NSW and the MCA are free; check for current details.
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Places
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Waterfront museum of contemporary art on Circular Quay with a popular rooftop terrace.
- Category
- Art museum
- Duration
- 1.5 h
- Price
- Free
- Best time
- Morning
Tip: Have a coffee on the rooftop café with Opera House views.
Show on mapAustralian Museum
The country’s oldest museum, founded in 1827, covering natural history and First Nations cultures.
- Category
- History museum
- Duration
- 2 h
- Price
- $$
- Best time
- Weekday mornings
Tip: Prioritise the dinosaur and First Nations galleries.
Show on mapPowerhouse Museum
Family-friendly interactive museum of science, technology, design and fashion.
- Category
- Science museum
- Duration
- 2.5 h
- Price
- $$
- Best time
- Weekday mornings
Tip: Interactive areas are calmer in the morning for families with kids.
Show on mapAustralian National Maritime Museum
Darling Harbour museum on ships and maritime history, with historic vessels afloat.
- Category
- History museum
- Duration
- 2 h
- Price
- $$
- Best time
- Weekday mornings
Tip: The submarine and destroyer tours are ticketed separately.
Show on mapHyde Park Barracks Museum
This UNESCO-listed building tells the story of convicts and immigrants.
- Category
- History museum
- Duration
- 1.3 h
- Price
- $$
- Best time
- Morning
Tip: The audio guide is free and available in several languages.
Show on mapSydney Observatory
A 19th-century observatory on Observatory Hill offering night telescope tours.
- Category
- Science museum
- Duration
- 1.3 h
- Price
- $
- Best time
- Evening
Tip: Book night tours in advance.
Show on mapMuseum of Sydney
Museum on the site of First Government House telling the city’s origins and the Gadigal story.
- Category
- History museum
- Duration
- 1.3 h
- Price
- $
- Best time
- Weekday mornings
Tip: Don’t miss the “Edge of the Trees” installation outside.
Show on mapSydney Jewish Museum
A moving museum on the Holocaust and the history of Australia’s Jewish community.
- Category
- History museum
- Duration
- 1.5 h
- Price
- $
- Best time
- Weekday mornings
Tip: There is a security check at entry, so bring ID.
Show on map
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Please verify with official sources before your visit.
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